Rehya Stevens is not only a gifted and highly praised singer-songwriter - she is an intuitive storyteller whose music explores the rich, complex terrain of human emotion. Few artists traverse the complexities of love, faith, joy, and perseverance with such grace and melodic eloquence. Stevens has built a reputation for crafting songs that are emotionally resonant, deeply relatable, and infused with a warmth that lingers long after the last note fades.

Her music radiates joy and sincerity - particularly in her acclaimed collection of holiday albums that celebrate kinship, nostalgia, and unity. At a time when disconnection and uncertainty often dominate the cultural climate, Rehya’s music offers an antidote of light: a space for reflection, healing, and shared humanity.

“I think the love of music has always driven me to figure out what makes me, and what makes other people tick - emotionally and spiritually,” Rehya says. “It’s allowed me to express our common yearnings, and, in turn, offer comfort, connection, and reflection through music.”

Early Life and Influences

Born in Pasadena, California, Rehya grew up surrounded by music and creativity. Her father, Peter Martin - a keyboardist and arranger for Diana Ross & the Supremes, Bobby Caldwell, and Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers, also composed and arranged for Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club during the late 1970s. Her mother, Susan, worked as a medical transcriptionist and nurtured Rehya’s love of music and storytelling.

After the family relocated to Rocklin, California, Rehya began piano lessons and discovered songwriting at an early age. She immersed herself in artists such as Etta James, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughan, alongside pop and R&B icons Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Sade, and George Michael.

“At school, I was that peculiar kid walking around the field or sitting under a tree, writing songs,” she recalls. “I was in deep - completely obsessed with music and writing songs.”

2001 – Rehya Stevens EP

After moving to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute’s Keyboard Institute of Technology (K.I.T.), Rehya released her self-titled debut EP in 2001. Produced by Glenn Allen and featuring renowned session guitarist Michael Landau, the six-song collection blended pop, Americana, and soul influences while exploring themes of love, resilience, and social awareness.

The release introduced Rehya’s distinctive songwriting voice and laid the foundation for a career defined by emotionally resonant storytelling, genre-spanning creativity, and a deep commitment to authentic human connection.

2013 – Vintage Love

Released in 2013, Vintage Love marked a significant artistic leap for Rehya Stevens. The 13-song collection drew inspiration from pop, R&B, and neo-soul while channeling the timeless sophistication of artists such as Lisa Stansfield, Sade, and George Michael. The album's lead single, All Because of You, was featured in the television series Friendzone.

Exploring themes of romance, empowerment, and self-discovery, Vintage Love showcased a growing confidence in both songwriting and production, laying the groundwork for the acclaimed releases that would follow.

2018 – Celebrate

Celebrate marked Rehya Stevens' breakthrough as a holiday artist. Composed entirely of original Christmas songs, the album became a seasonal favorite and a recurring presence across film and television. Songs from the album have been featured in numerous productions, including Noelle (Disney+), The War With Grandpa (theatrical), Black Christmas (theatrical), Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (Hallmark), All Rise (CBS), The 12 Dates of Christmas (HBO Max), and national campaigns for Walmart, among others.

The album produced two standout successes: “Happy Holiday” reached No. 2 on Billboard's Smooth Jazz chart, while “Jingle Jangle” earned the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Holiday Song and went on to become Rehya's signature holiday recording, generating more than 25 film, television, and advertising placements and surpassing 5 million streams.

Critics praised Celebrate as “beautifully produced, perfectly melodic and deeply satisfying,” while Merry and Bright called it “a great soundtrack for a Christmas-season evening at home.” MyMerryChristmas.com described the album as “warm, bold and festive… from sacred to secular, from joyous to reflective — it’s all there.”

2021 – ’Tis the Season

Released in 2021, ’Tis the Season is a joyful collection of eight original songs and three beloved holiday classics that further established Rehya Stevens as a distinctive voice in contemporary Christmas music. The album's title track, “’Tis the Season,” was featured in multiple films, television programs, and a national advertising campaign for Victoria’s Secret.

Working alongside Grammy-nominated producer Tom Keane (Chaka Khan, Barbra Streisand, Chicago), Jon Kubis (Dancing with the Stars), and hit songwriter Gardner Cole (Madonna), Rehya crafted a collection of fresh, heartfelt songs that feel both contemporary and timeless.

Critics responded enthusiastically. Buzz LA praised the title track as “Unlike traditional tried and true Christmas songs, ’Tis the Season brings something fresh, yet evergreen to the same old holiday playlist.” Lee Zimmerman of Goldmine wrote, “A follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2018 holiday album, Celebrate, ’Tis the Season finds Rehya offering another set of all-new, soon-to-be Christmas classics.”

2023 – Santa’s Takin’ Over the Town

Rehya’s 2023 release, Santa’s Takin’ Over the Town, further expanded her signature approach to contemporary holiday music. Blending retro influences, soulful pop, heartfelt ballads, and lyrical wit, the album pairs classic Christmas nostalgia with modern production and timeless appeal.

The title track, “Santa’s Takin’ Over the Town,” was featured as the end-title song in the holiday film My Secret Santa. The album was met with enthusiastic reviews, with Honk! Magazine praising the project as a work that “celebrates the human experience, a musical journey that embraces the highs, lows, and everything in-between.” Aaron Henton of Merry and Bright! wrote, “Santa’s Takin’ Over the Town features 10 new songs, all originals, all bubbling over with the Christmas spirit and sound, and all some of the best new Christmas music you will hear this year.”

2026 - Black Dog: Leaving the 405

Marking a bold departure from the holiday music that brought her widespread recognition, Black Dog: Leaving the 405 explores burnout, identity, recovery, and the emotional aftermath of life inside the Los Angeles entertainment industry. Blending dark pop, cinematic textures, and deeply personal storytelling, the project reflects on grief, resilience, and the search for authenticity in a culture often defined by image, ambition, and reinvention.

At its core, the EP is a reflection on what remains after years spent pursuing success in places that can feel glamorous on the surface, yet surprisingly hollow underneath. Through its unflinching honesty and emotional depth, Black Dog: Leaving the 405 reveals a more vulnerable side of Rehya's artistry while continuing her lifelong commitment to creating music that helps people feel seen, understood, and less alone.

The Heart Behind The Music 

“Songs are powerful connectors. I think music helps people feel less alone on this crazy, beautiful journey.”

Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades, Rehya Stevens has built a catalog that has generated more than 60 film, television, and advertising placements, earned a Hollywood Music in Media Award, and amassed more than 5 million streams. From her introspective early work to her acclaimed holiday recordings and the forthcoming Black Dog: Leaving the 405, her music remains grounded in emotion, storytelling, and authentic human connection.

As music journalist Lee Zimmerman observed, “From introspective early work to award-winning holiday music and the upcoming Black Dog: Leaving the 405, Rehya Stevens has spent more than two decades creating songs grounded in emotion, storytelling, and human connection.”